The Witcher IV: CD Projekt Red Aims for 60fps on Consoles—But Xbox Series S May Struggle

When CD Projekt Red starts making headlines about The Witcher IV, you pay attention-especially after the rocky launch of Cyberpunk 2077. This time, the studio’s talking up their bold technical ambitions: specifically, a 60 frames-per-second (fps) target for all console versions. That might sound like standard industry marketing bluster, but there’s a lot more to unpack here if you care about your games running smoothly… or at all, if you’re on an Xbox Series S.

The Witcher IV and the 60fps Promise: Ambition Meets Hardware Reality

• CD Projekt Red is prioritizing console performance over PC for The Witcher IV’s development, a direct response to Cyberpunk 2077’s launch fiasco.
• The studio is targeting 60fps on both PS5 and Xbox Series X, but admits Series S could fall short due to hardware limitations.
• Early tech demos were shown on PS5, not PC-showing where their current priorities really are.
• The admission about Series S performance signals devs aren’t sugarcoating the reality: some versions may see major cuts or issues.

Feature	Specification
Publisher	CD Projekt Red
Release Date	TBA
Genres	Action RPG
Platforms	PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

The Witcher franchise is the kind of heavy-hitter that sets the bar for fantasy RPGs-and CD Projekt Red’s reputation has been riding a rollercoaster since Cyberpunk’s buggy release on last-gen consoles. Now, seeing the studio put consoles at the forefront of development is a clear acknowledgment of those past mistakes. They’re building Witcher IV “console first, PC second”—a sharp reversal from studios’ usual approach, but honestly, it’s probably what needed to happen after Cyberpunk. If you remember the horror stories of Cyberpunk’s launch on PS4 and Xbox One, you know why they’re nervous about underpowered hardware.

The promise of 60fps is a big deal—if you play RPGs, you know how clunky combat and camera movement can feel when framerates stutter. In a sprawling open world like The Witcher’s, “cinematic” is fine until you’re fighting for your life and your screen drops frames at a crucial moment. CD Projekt Red is clearly banking on current-gen hardware to make this standard, not the exception. That’s good news for anyone who values gameplay smoothness over sheer graphical fidelity.

But here’s where it gets real: the Xbox Series S. Devs said straight-up that reaching a locked 60fps there will be tough. If you’ve followed industry chatter, you know this budget version of Microsoft’s console has already been a pain point for ambitious games—forcing compromises on resolution, draw distance, and, yes, framerate. While PS5 and Series X both pack enough punch to make 60fps realistic (with sacrifices), the Series S is the elephant in the room. CD Projekt Red’s public uncertainty is refreshing: no sugarcoating, no empty promises. They’re admitting this might end up a “best effort” situation—meaning you might get 60fps, or you might get choppy, compromised gameplay if you’re on the weaker box.

Let’s not forget: the infamous Cyberpunk 2077 console launch was a public lesson in why not to oversell what your game can do on old or weak hardware. The fact that this studio is openly worried about Series S performance shows they’ve learned (painfully) from their mistakes. Whether that means Series S owners get a downgraded visual experience, locked 30fps, or even have to wait for a patch, it’s at least transparent. If you’re on a Series S and want the “real” Witcher IV experience, you might want to start saving now for your next hardware upgrade.

As for the tech demo running on PS5—not PC? That matters. It’s a sign that the beefier PlayStation (and Series X) is the expected performance baseline, and that PC optimization will come after, not before. For once, console gamers aren’t second-class citizens, but it might also mean PC users will get a less tailored experience at launch (mods and community fixes, anyone?).

What This Means for Fellow Gamers

If you’re picking up The Witcher IV, here’s the honest takeaway: expect the smoothest gameplay and sharpest graphics on PS5 and Xbox Series X. Series S owners will likely face obvious compromises—or worse, history repeating itself with performance issues. CD Projekt Red seems determined not to repeat their own worst mistakes, but hardware realities can’t be patched away. This scenario is also another reminder that as games grow more ambitious, so does the pressure on “entry-level” hardware. If your priority is silky 60fps monster hunting, choose your platform carefully.

TL;DR

CD Projekt Red’s aiming high by targeting 60fps on next-gen consoles for The Witcher IV, but Xbox Series S owners should brace for cuts or instability. The developer’s “console-centric” approach is a welcome change after Cyberpunk, but don’t expect miracles from weaker hardware. This is the reality of big-budget gaming in 2024: technical ambition meets hard limits. Plan your upgrades accordingly, and let’s hope CDPR sticks to transparency every step of the way.